Lights of the World Week 11: Synchronous Lightening Bugs

Photo by Radim Schreimer at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Photinus_Carolinus_Fireflies.jpg

The Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge encourages participants to be physically active an average of at least 20 minutes/day.

Week 11, starting November 5 and ending November 11, features the Synchronous Fireflies (or Lightning Bugs as most of us southerners prefer to call them) of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Although difficult to predict exactly, the unusual light show displayed by these luminous beetles typically occurs for about two weeks beginning in late May through early June. The timing seems to depend on temperatures, soil moisture, and brightness of the moon.

The flash pattern of lightning bugs seem to help the males and females with mating. Males tend to fly and flash while females tend to stay stationary and flash. Fireflies may flash in waves and randomly; however, this particular species may begin to flash synchronously, all at the same time, in short bursts that end with abrupt dark periods.

If you want to travel west in our state of North Carolina to see this popular natural light show in person, make reservations and have your name added to the list early. A limited number of parking passes are distributed through a lottery each year.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

Lights of the World Week 10: Everlasting Storm

Photo by Fenando Flores at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catatumbo_Lightning_-_Rayo_del_Catatumbo_(25217861751).jpg

The Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge encourages participants to be physically active an average of at least 20 minutes/day.

Week 10, starting October 29 and ending November 4, features the Everlasting Storm near the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. This impressive sky filled light show occurs an average of 297 nights/year, sometimes lasting 10 hours/day with up to 280 strikes/hour, winning a world Guinness record for the area with the most lightening. The storms are most frequent from April to November, often peaking in September. Here's a slide show of mesmerizing photographs highlighting this storm of storms.

Because of its stunning visibility that occurs in the same area, this everlasting storm is sometimes called the Lighthouse of Maracaibo or "river of fire in the sky." The phenomenon occurs when heat and moisture from the Maracaibo Lake and surrounding swampy plains meet cooler air masses from the horseshoe-shaped Andes Mountains at this location. One group studying this Everlasting Storm used tethered balloons in order to predict storm activity months in advance. In 2010, the storm stopped from January to March, but true to its name, the storm resumed after a drought in the region ceased.

When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightenings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind ouf of his treasures. Jeremiah 10:13

Lights of the World Week 9: Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Photo by Marcrosenrosen at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nz_glowworm.jpeg

The Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge encourages participants to be physically active an average of at least 20 minutes/day.

Week 9, starting October 22 and ending October 28, features Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand. When touring caves and caverns, one might expect to see formations such as stalactites and stalagmites and animals such as cave ants and crickets. Tourists might be impressed to find longfin eels in one of the underground lakes in this New Zealand cave.

But most visitors of Waitomo Caves are particularly interested in the boat ride on the underground Waitomo River, where glowworms illuminate the cave ceiling above them. You might be surprised to learn that glowworms are not actually worms. They are the larvae of a gnat and these particular glowworms have luminescent tails - the adults look at bit like mosquitoes! These glowworms are luminescent due to a chemical reaction and they become brighter or less bright by controlling the amount of oxygen that reaches their light organ. Their glowing bodies help them attract food and ward off predators.

Click here to see additional pictures of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Revelation 21:23

Lights of the World Week 8: Horsetail Fall

Photo by Ambitious Wench at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2007-02-16_-_Horsetail_Fall_(Yosemite).jpg

The Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge encourages participants to be physically active an average of at least 20 minutes/day.

Week 8, starting October 15 and ending October 21, features Horsetail Fall in California's Yosemite National Park. This waterfall flows in winter and early spring. In February at sunset if conditions are just right, the waterfall appears to look like fire cascading down the rocks. This unusual light phenomenon called a firefall is best seen from the el Capitan picnic area in Yosemite National Park.

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. 
Ecclesiastes 2:13

For more information about this waterfall and to see photos of the waterfall when it is "on fire," click here.

Lights of the World Week 7: Maco Station Light

Photo by Cassiopeia sweet at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OER_3021_Signboard_Headlight.jpg

The Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge encourages participant to be physically active an average of at least 20 minutes/day.

Week 7, starting October 8 and ending October 14, features North Carolina's legendary Maco Station Light seen at Rattlesnake Grade or Farmer's Turnout in northeastern Brunswick County. In 1873, a light resembling a lantern was first reported to appear near the railroad tracks at night. Was this the ghost of Joe Baldwin, who stood frantically waving a lantern to warn an oncoming train while on a detached car rolling down the tracks only to be beheaded in the collision?

Perhaps the light resulted from nearby swamp gases, but why would it be swinging side to side and traveling down the center of the track? Headlights from vehicles on a nearby road might have been a good theory, but some say the lights were reported decades before automobiles would have been on the scene.

Some say Grover Cleveland came through the area on a train and asked why the signalman used two lights instead of one and was told it was to distinguish between the real signal and the ghost of Joe Baldwin. The Maco Station elicited a bit of interest from a variety of sources, including Life Magazine, the Smithsonian Institute, and even a machine gun detachment from Fort Bragg.

We'll probably never know the absolute truth about the Maco Station light mystery. The railroad filled in the swamp under the trestle in 1935. The track and trestle associated with the legend were removed in 1977.

If interested in hearing one account of the Maco Station light, click here to listen to Jackie Torrence, a famous storyteller from Spencer, North Carolina, weave the tale as only a seasoned storyteller could.

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. "Joshua 10:13

Lights of the World Week 6: Naga Fireballs

Photo by J A Forbes at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beung_Fai_Phraya_Nag_(187)_ball.JPG

The Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge encourages participants to be physically active an average of at least 20 minutes/day.

Week 6, starting October 1 and ending October 7, features the Naga fireballs, also known as Mekong lights or bung fai paya nak, glowing balls that seem to rise from the Mekong River. Some are as large as a basketball. This unusual reddish light show generally peaks late October. Sometimes thousands of these fireballs are seen in one night around the time of the Phayanak Festival.

Could these glowing orbs be thrown by a legendary serpent that lives in the Mekong River? Could they result from a natural phenomenon such as plasma orbs called St. Elmo's Fire revered by sailors for centuries? Perhaps they are phosphine gas bubbles resulting from a marshy environment. Or maybe they are simply the result of Laotian soldiers firing tracer rounds from flare guns from the other side of the river.

Have you ever seen Naga fireballs, St. Elmo's Fire, or plasma orbs?

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;" 1 Peter 2:9

Lights of the World Week 5: Aurora Borealis

Photo by Moyan Brenn at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aurora_borealis_(14832459401).jpg

The Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge encourages participants to be physically active an average of at least 20 minutes/day.

Week 5, starting September 24 and ending September 30, features the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, that can be seen from many different areas of the Northern Hemisphere. A sister light show, Aurora Australis, can be seen from portions of the Southern Hemisphere. The auroral electrons spiral around the geomagnetic field, producing a wide variety of lights in the sky after dark.

If in an area where the phenomena can be seen, observers may see patches or arcs of light. The lights may appear as curtains while some change constantly. A variety of colors may be visible, including various combinations of red, green, blue, yellow, or pink.

If you are in an area where Aurora Borealis is present, you may be able to hear a hissing or crackling sound if you are about 230 feet above the earth's surface. Have you ever seen this light phenomenon? If so, where were you?

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:5

Lights of the World Week 4: Kawah Ijen Volcano in Indonesia

Photo by Daniel Julie at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DSC00316_Java_East_Kawah_Ijen_Volcano_Caldeira_and_acide_Lake_and_Sulfured_(6224356958).jpg

The Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge encourages participants to be physically active an average of at least 20 minutes/day.

Week 4, starting September 17 and ending September 23, features the stunning blue glow of the Kawah Ijen Volcano on the island of Java in Indonesia. Atop the volcano lies Kawah Ijen Crater Lake, a large body of water filled with hydrochloric acid. This acid makes the lake appear green.

Those visiting the area may see a spectacular glowing blue show resulting from the combustion of sulfuric acids. The acids ignite as they come in contact with oxygen in the air, sometimes sending glowing blue flames into the air up to 16 feet. Some of these gases condense into liquid sulfur that flows down the sides of the volcano, giving the appearance of bright blue lava.

If you want to see this light show up close, don't forget your gas mask to protect against toxic gases released from these chemical explosions. You'll also want to stay after dark because the bright blue colored phenomenon can only be seen at night. Click here to see the glowing blue nighttime photos.

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. Ecclesiastes 2:13

Lights of the World Week 3: Light Pillars of Laramie, Wyoming

Photo by Christoph Geisler at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Light_pillars_over_Laramie_Wyoming_in_winter_night.jpg

The Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge encourages participant to be physically active an average of at least 20 minutes/day.

Week 3, starting September 10 and ending September 16, features the light poles or pillars of Laramie, Wyoming. This phenomenon is actually in the family of halos and requires several circumstances in order to appear: a fairly large town with bright lights at night, temperatures below -4 degrees Fahrenheit, no wind or very little wind, tiny ice crystals in the air. This icy fog then reflects lights from below that appear to be poles or pillars of light reaching toward the sky.

Light sources for this optical illusion may also come from natural sources such as the sun or moon. Have you ever seen a light pillar? If so, were did you see it?

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

Lights of the World Week 2: Blue Grotto

Photo by Glen Scarborough at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_Grotto,_Capri,_IT.jpg

The Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge encourages participants to be physically active an average of at least 20 minutes/day for eleven weeks.

Week 2, starting September 3 and ending September 9, features Blue Grotto in Capri, Italy. Known by locals as Gradola, Blue Grotto is a sea cave illuminated with a dazzling blue reflection as sunlight sparkles through the seawater. Items placed underwater appear silver due to air bubbles that surround the object.

The mouth of the cave is about two meters wide and one meter high; those wishing to enter the cave must time the trip during low tide when the sea is calm. The cave is accessible via rowboat; visitors enter the cave by lying flat on the bottom of the boat that is then pulled in by chains.

During Roman times, this grotto was a marine temple and the personal swimming area for Emperor Tiberius. This sea cave has inspired several writers, including Mark Twain, August Kopisch, Alberto Moravia, and Ann Weil.

Have you ever traveled to a sea cave? If so, what was the most memorable part of that experience for you?

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Lights of the World Week 1: Antelope Slot Canyon

Photo by Lucas Loffler https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USA_Antelope-Canyon.jpg

The Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge encourages participants to be physically active an average of at least 20 minutes/day for eleven weeks.

Week 1, starting August 27 and ending September 2, features Antelope Slot Canyon in Page Arizona. Upper Antelope Canyon is also called "The Crack." The Navajo name for this section means "the place where water runs through rocks." Lower Antelope Canyon is sometimes referred to as "The Corkscrew," and the Navajo name for this section means "spiral rock arches."

This slot canyon was formed as the result of erosion of Navajo Sandstone. Flash floods still occur within both canyons, but the natural beauty of sunlight streaming through areas of the canyons and brightly illuminating the multicolored canyon walls attracts a large number of photographers and tourists each year.

Have you ever visited Antelope Canyon? If so, what was your experience?

Then spake Jesus again to them saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge

2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge at Woodleaf United Methodist Church

Woodleaf United Methodist Church's health ministry is excited to present our Fall 2017 Lights of the World Fitness Challenge! This challenge begins Sunday, August 27 and continues for 11 weeks through Saturday, November 11. Each week, we'll focus on a different naturally occurring light in the world with a "light" Bible verse for reflection.

If you are interested in joining the challenge, feel free to email NurseforWoodleafUMC@gmail.com. Each week runs Sunday through Saturday; participants submit how much total time they exercise each week by Tuesday of the following week. Submissions may be in person at the church, by phone, or via email. Results are then displayed in graph form on our blog - no names are published with the results.

Regular exercise has been shown to have a multitude of positive health benefits. The challenge encourages participants to exercise an average of at least 20 minutes/day, but you are welcome to set your own individual fitness goals for the challenge as well. Children who would like to participate should get permission from a parent/guardian. We'd love for you to join us on this healthy journey!